Drive unit for an electric cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

Drive unit ( 10 ) assembled inside a structure ( 11 ) of an electric cleaning apparatus ( 12 ), which comprises an electric motor associated with suction members ( 33 ), that create a suction flow inside the structure ( 11 ), and command members ( 26 ), that selectively command the functioning parameters of the electric motor. The electric motor, the suction members ( 33 ) and the command members ( 26 ) are assembled and integrated together to form a single body, so as to be able to be arranged unitarily inside the structure ( 11 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/IB2004/001594, filed May 18, 2004, which was published in theEnglish language on Dec. 2, 2004, under International Publication No. WO2004/103143 A1, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a drive unit for an electric cleaningapparatus, such as a vacuum cleaner, an electric brush, a crumb vacuumeror suchlike. The drive unit according to the present invention comprisesan electric motor, a suction fan and a unit to command the motor, and isable to be arranged inside an outer structure of the electric cleaningapparatus, irrespective of the aesthetic form of the latter.

Electric cleaning apparatuses are known, such as for example vacuumcleaners, electric brushes, crumb vacuumers or suchlike, used inhousehold cleaning.

Such known apparatuses normally comprise an outer structure providedinside with a drive unit which creates the suction, and outside with aplurality of accessories, such as suction pipes, handles, grips, suctionbrushes or otherwise, arranged according to the specific function of theelectric cleaning apparatus used.

The drive units normally assembled in known-type apparatuses generallyhave an electric motor, a unit to command the latter, and a connectionportion with the suction body.

Normally the various components of known drive units are autonomous withrespect to each other, and are assembled separately and sequentiallyinside the structure of the electric cleaning apparatus. Moreover, theshape of each component is chosen according to the structure in whichthe drive unit is installed.

One of the main disadvantages of known drive units is that, due to theirspecific conformation, they cannot be assembled in structures havingdifferent shapes from those for which they have been expressly designedand made.

This disadvantage entails the need to design and construct, every time,a specific drive unit, with specific components, according to the shapesand sizes of the electric cleaning apparatus, with a consequent increasein both the design and production costs of said electric cleaningapparatuses.

Moreover, again because of this disadvantage, different types of spareparts necessarily have to be produced, for each individual model ofapparatus, thus increasing both the storage costs in the warehouse andalso the distribution costs.

Another disadvantage is that such known drive units consist of a highnumber of components which, apart from having higher overall costs, tendonce they have been assembled to generate vibrations which produce greatnoisiness of the electric cleaning apparatus.

One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a drive unit for anelectric cleaning apparatus which is of the substantially universaltype, that is, which can be assembled on any electric cleaningapparatus, irrespective of the shape thereof.

Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention toovercome the shortcomings of the state of the art, to achieve thispurpose and to obtain other purposes and advantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim,while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the presentinvention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the aforesaid purpose, a drive unit according to thepresent invention is able to be assembled inside a structure of anelectric cleaning apparatus, and comprises at least an electric motorassociated with suction means, that create a suction flow inside thestructure, and command means, that selectively command the functioningparameters of the electric motor. In this case, the electric motor, thesuction means and the command means are assembled together andintegrated in a single body, so as to be arranged unitarily inside theaforesaid structure, irrespective of the shape thereof.

The drive unit according to the present invention also comprises flangemeans removably attached on a box-like containing body for the electricmotor, which allow to connect the single body, pre-assembled, with thestructure of the apparatus.

Such flange means comprise adaptor means that allow to center the singlebody with respect to the structure, according to the shape of thelatter.

It is therefore possible to assemble the drive unit according to thepresent invention in any electric cleaning apparatus whatsoever,irrespective of the size and shape of the apparatus itself.

This advantage leads to designing a single drive unit, substantiallyirrespective of the electric cleaning apparatus, with a consequentreduction in both the design and production costs of the electriccleaning apparatuses.

Moreover, with the drive unit according to the present invention it ispossible to reduce the number of spare parts, thus reducing the storagecosts in the warehouse and also the distribution costs.

Another advantage of the present invention is that, with the reductionin the number of components to be assembled in sequence, the vibrationsand noisiness of the electric cleaning apparatus are consequentlyreduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presentlypreferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electric cleaning apparatusin which a drive unit according to the present invention is assembled;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the drive unit in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a drive unit 10 according to the presentinvention is arranged inside an outer structure 11 of an electriccleaning apparatus 12.

In this case, we shall make specific reference to an electric cleaningapparatus 12, such as a crumb vacuumer, but it is clear that the driveunit 10 can be assembled on any type whatsoever of electric cleaningapparatus, such as a vacuum cleaner, an electric brush or otherwise.

The outer structure 11 comprises two shells 13 and 15, able to beselectively dis-assembled from each other, so as to allow easy access tothe drive unit 10.

The shell 13 is arranged, during use, at the front and comprises asuction hole 16 connected to the drive unit 10 by means of a suctionpipe 17, so that the activation of the drive unit 10 determines thesuction of dirt and dust through the suction hole 16. Inside the shell13, located between the suction pipe 17 and the drive unit 10, a filteris arranged, of a known type and not shown in the drawings, which allowsto filter the air sucked in and to retain the dirt.

The shell 13 also comprises an automatic coupling element 19 able tocooperate with a mating attachment seating 20 made on the shell 15 tomaintain the two shells 13 and 15 selectively coupled in removablemanner.

The shell 15 comprises an inner housing seating 21, inside which thedrive unit 10 is arranged, and an outer gripping handle 22, by means ofwhich the user can comfortably handle the electric cleaning apparatus12.

The drive unit 10 comprises a connection flange 23 and a box-likecontaining body 25, inside which an electric motor 32 is arranged (FIG.3), of a known type, connected to a suction fan 33 which causes asuction flow inside the electric cleaning apparatus 12. The drive unit10 also comprises a command unit 26 for the electric motor 32.

The connection flange 23 is substantially circular in shape andcomprises, in a central zone, a grid 27 for the passage of air and twoattachment fins 29 for the filter that retains the dirt.

The connection flange 23 also comprises a shaped crown 24, with aprofile mating with that of the housing seating 21, so as to allow tocenter the drive unit 10 with respect to the relative housing seating21.

In this case, the shaped crown 24 is made in a piece on the connectionflange 23, even if the shaped crown 24 can be removable with respect tothe connection flange 23 and temporarily attached to the latter by meansof screws or other suitable means.

The connection flange 23 is connected in removable manner to thebox-like containing body 25 by means of hooks 30, screws, bayonet typecouplings, or otherwise, so as to allow possible inspection of thefunctional part of the drive unit 10 in a simple and rapid manner.

The box-like containing body 25 is also provided with a lead-in element31 to facilitate the insertion of the drive unit 10 into the relativehousing seating 21.

An annular shock-absorber packing 34 is located between the suction fan33 and the grid 27 of the connection flange 23, and also guarantees apneumatic seal.

The lead-in element 31 can also be autonomous with respect to thebox-like containing body 25, and can be assembled and dis-assembledindependently with respect to the latter.

The command unit 26 is attached to the rear part of the box-likecontaining body 25.

The command unit 26 is also of a substantially known type and comprisesa command knob 35 and a connection interface 36 with an electric cablein turn connected to the electric energy distribution network.

The command knob 35 is able both to switch on the electric motor 32, andalso to regulate the functioning parameters thereof, such as the powerand the number of revolutions. The command knob 35 is able to protrude,during use, from the upper part of the shell 13 through a suitableaperture, not shown in the drawings, made on the latter. In this way thecommand knob 35 is constantly accessible to the user for all the stepswherein the electric cleaning apparatus 12 is used.

The command unit 26 is thus integrated with the box-like containing body25 of the electric motor 32, and contributes to making the entire driveunit 10 compact. The latter is therefore not constrained by the shape ofthe shells 13 and 15 and consequently that of the electric cleaningapparatus 12 on which it is installed.

In fact, by replacing on the outside only the shaped crown 24, the driveunit 10 can be assembled substantially on any type of electric cleaningapparatus 12.

It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts canbe made to the drive unit 10 as described heretofore, without departingfrom the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, by replacing the fan 33 by a rotor, and eliminating thefilter, it is possible to assemble the drive unit 10 on any domesticelectric apparatus 12, such as a kneading machine, a kitchen robot orotherwise, irrespective of their aesthetic form.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been describedwith reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shallcertainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of drive unitfor an electric cleaning apparatus, all of which shall come within thefield and scope of the present invention.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. Drive unit able to be assembled inside a structure of an electriccleaning apparatus, and comprising at least an electric motor associatedwith suction means able to create a suction flow inside said structureand command means able to selectively command the functioning parametersof said electric motor, wherein said electric motor, said suction meansand said command means are assembled and integrated together to form asingle body, so as to be able to be arranged unitarily inside saidstructure, and wherein said electric motor and said suction means arearranged inside a box-like containing body removably connected to flangemeans able to connect said single body to said structure.
 2. Drive unitas in claim 1, wherein said flange means comprise adaptor means able toallow to center said single body with respect to said structure andaccording to the shape of said structure.
 3. Drive unit as in claim 1,wherein said structure comprises two shells able to be selectivelycoupled together, and wherein a first of said shells is able to couplewith said flange means.
 4. Drive unit as in claim 3, wherein said singlebody is able to be arranged in a housing seating of a second of saidshells.
 5. Drive unit as in claim 1, wherein said command means areelectrically connected to said electric motor and comprise a commandelement and a connection interface connected to an electric energydistribution network.
 6. Drive unit as in claim 3, wherein said commandelement comprises a knob arranged at least partly outside said firstshell and able to allow to regulate said functioning parameters of saidelectric motor.